Path 1. A village and a castle, under the aegis of the Magi

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The journey starts at Menaggio Jetty, and initially runs on a section of the lake promenade, then goes into the “historic centre” of the ancient fortified village, characterized by narrow streets which run between old massive buildings, bordering places which across the centuries have constituted the spiritual core of Menaggio (the now demolished Baptistery, the Provostal church of St. Stephen, the church of Saint Martha) or revealed its inclination to welcome strangers (the old “Hospice of the Three Kings”, but also the many business activities which offer hospitality to contemporary travellers and pilgrims). At this stage the route runs uphill to the higher part of town, in a fascinating tour around what is thought to have been the glorious fortress destroyed in 1523 by the Grisons, in search of the many vestiges of the past enclosed in the urban texture, but, most of all, of its evocative atmosphere. It then goes down again, covers a section of the old via Regina and repeatedly crosses the Sanagra stream, almost accompanying its rushing descent to peace in the waters of Lake Como, finally returning to the lake promenade and at the point of departure.

Stages

STAGE 1 – From the jetty to via Calvi
STAGE 2 – From the church of St. Stephen to the visit around the vestiges of the Castle
STAGE 3 – From via Strecioun to the jetty

Point of interest

Sanagra Valley Inter-Municipal Park, Old Menaggio-Porlezza Railway, Baptistery of St. John the Baptist and Praetorium*, Hospice of the Three Kings, Church of St. Martha, Church of St. Stephen, Menaggio Castle*, Church of St. Charles, Church of St. James at the Castle*, The Old Regina Road in Menaggio, The “Old” Bridge, Monument to the Weaver *Buildings totally or partially in ruins

Path details

Point of departure Menaggio, jetty
Point of arrival Menaggio, jetty
Path type urban route (stage 1); urban-excursion mixed route (stages 2 and 3)
Environment urban area, hilly area
Total length approx. 3 km
Travel time on foot approx. 1.20 h (excluding visits)
Difficulty Tourist (stage 1); Tourist-Excursionist, uphill, with cobbled paving and steps in some sections (stage 2); Tourist-Excursionist, with cobbled paving and steps in some sections (stage 3)
Access See single descriptions
Other recommended means of transport –

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Overlapping / Intersections with other paths

None

Texts

Silvia Fasana

Further information about the path

Rise: approx. 50
Maximum height: 250 m
Paving: asphalt, stone setts, stone slabs, cobbles
Public transport to the point of departure: bus service , boat, ferry, hydrofoil Public transport from the point of arrival: bus service , boat, ferry, hydrofoil
Parking at the point of departure: parking spaces available nearby

Want to know more?

Historical figures
Castellino da Castello Padre Gabriele Malagrida Leone Leoni

Bibliografia I. Vigoni, Breve storia di Menaggio e dintorni, Casa editrice Antonio Noseda, Como 1960.
F. Cereghini, D. Cereghini, Itinerari Culturali Secoli di Storia Umana ed Artistica, Comunità Montana Alpi Lepontine, s.d.
M. Rossi, A. Rovetta, A. Spiriti, M.C. Terzaghi, Guide della Provincia di Como – Alpi Lepontine Meridionali, Amministrazione Provinciale di Como, Istituto per la Storia dell’Arte Lombarda, Nodo Libri, Como 1994.
Classe II B Scuola Media Statale “J. Rezia” Menaggio, Il Castello di Menaggio, A. Sampietro Editore, Menaggio 1996.
G.M. Baratelli, D. M. Baratelli, Menaggio Testimonianze di fede, A. Sampietro Editore, Menaggio 1995.
Novecento anni da Mengaldo (1095-1995), Parrocchia di Santo Stefano, Menaggio 1995.
A. Marcarini, Il sentiero della regina. Dieci passeggiate da Como a Chiavenna, Lyasis Sondrio, 2005.
Various brochures available at Menaggio’s Tourist Information Office.